Window stay



Get. 8, 1940. A RONNmG 2,217,079

wINDow STAY Original Filed June 9, 1938 @5% Qu-Ly 7 Patented O ct. 8 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 212,734. -Divided and. this application August 14, 1939, Serial No. 289,993

1o claims.

This invention relates to improvements in window stays.

In the mounting and use of storm windows and screens of the type which are hinged at their vupper ends to the window frame, it is customary to provide some fastening means at their lower ends and, in the case of the storm windows, to provide also some sort of stay means to hold the windows slightly opened at their lower ends when desired. It is the primary object of my invention to provide a combination locking and stay means for such structures and which is of a simple and inexpensive form having numerous advantages over the more common mechanism for the purpose. Another object is to provide-a device of this kind which may be readily operated to lock the window in closed position or retain it in partially opened position and which requires no use of tools in order to make connection to either 2O the storm window or screen-as they are replaced in the window. A further object is to provide a device of this kind in which the connecting elements fastened on the Window screens are of such nature that they form no projection thereon such as would interfere with compact storage and be liable to breakage in storage.

These and other more detailed and specic objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in vertical section,'showing one type of stay means applied to a window frame and storm window and showing the window in an opened position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, partially broken away and in section, showing the drum and exible stay member employed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged face view of the connecting member used for connecting the flexible stay member to the window or screen.

Fig. 6 is a-cross section along the line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 'l is an enlarged perspective View of the structure shown in Fig. 1 but modified to include a lock for locking the window or screen in closed position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modied mounting arrangement of the stay means. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the assembly of Fig. 8,

(Cl. 29g- 262) showing a part of the window frame in cross section.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, A designates a window frame, and B the storm window or screen which are used, the stay means or device constituting my invention. It is to be noted that the term window frame as herein employed is to denote the xed frame in which element B is mounted, and that this latter element may be lo any swingably mounted structuresuch as a storm window, easement window, or screen. For convenience sake the element B will be referred to simply as a window, and it will be understood that the Window in usual manner is removably 15 and hingedly suspended from the top of the frame A to swing closed at its lower end against the frame. To open the window it is simply pushed outwardly at its lower end as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. 20

My improved stay means may of course be used at each side of the window, but only a. single unit wil be herein shown and described. The actual stay member or supporting element I0 here takes the form of an elongated strip of spring 25 material, such as steel, formed into a concavoconvex cross section or arcuate shape so that it may readily atten when Wound into a coil but will, when extended, have the property of maintaining a straight condition and resisting endwise 30 stresses.. 'I'his strip is wound or coiled up in a container or carrier II which is secured to the inner side of the window frame A and includes a xed cup-like base I2 secured by means of a screw I3 and punched out teeth I4 to the frame. 35 This base has an extended guideway I5 through which the member or strip I0 may slide in a flattened condition to enter and leave the carrier, and this guideway directs -the strip outwardly toward the window B. A parted, expansible brake 40 drum I6 fits within the coil IIIa of the strip I0 and normally contracts in order to free this coil so that the strip may be readily pulled out of, or pushed into, the carrier. A cover plate I1 lits over the base I2 and has a central, cup-shaped 45 depression I8 having an inner, annular, and angularly extended edge I9 located within the drum I6. The drum has cam lugs 20 punched inwardly at circumferentially spaced points, and these lugs have angular cam faces 2l which engage the edge 50 I9 of the cover plate I'l so that, by pushing this plate inwardly over the base I2 (guided by the telescoping margins 22) the edge I9 will cam against the lugs 20 to expand the drum I6 and tighten the coil I0a. The strip I Il will thus be 55 locked against movement, but by releasing the cover plate I1, the brake drum I 3 may again contact to free the strip. For thus operating the cover plate I1 I provide a stud 23 which is rigidly extended from the screw I3i through an opening 24 in the cover, and which carries a threaded knob 25 on its outer end to engage the cover (when screwed tight) and press it inwardly into the drum, or to allow the cover to move outwardly when unscrewed.

For releasably connecting the end of the strip I Il to the window B I provide a connecting unit 26 including a base 21 adapted to be screwed to the window and having an aperture 28 with dlametrically opposed and radially extended notches 29. 'I'he end of the strip I0 is notched as at 30 to form a T-shaped head 3| which may enter the notches 29. The base 21 is so located on the window B that these notches lie at right angles to the normal position of the strip I and the strip must, therefore, be twisted on its axis a quarter turn in order to introduce the head 3l through the notches. When released the strip will then return to normal position, and the head will be locked within the base 21 as will be clearly evident. The operation of connecting and disconnecting the strip with respect to the window B (or the screen which, of course, also carries the units 26) is thus readily performed without tools. The base 21 may have its central portion formed out into a boss 32 in order to give clearance space for the head 3| or the base may be fixed flatly to the Window and a recess formed in the window beneath the base to give this clearance. In operation, the knob 25 is normally screwed tight to prevent movement of the strip I0 and the window is then held in adjusted position. However, by loosening this knob the strip is freed and the window B may be moved outwardly or inwardly to any desired position. 'Ihen by tightening the knob again the strip will be locked, and will support the window in the adjusted position, as will be understood. The window is, of course, normally provided with one strip I0 and carrier assembly II at each side. To change the window B for a screen the strips I0 are simply twisted slightly to free them from the connecting units 26, and are then replaced in the units on the screen. The margins 22 of the base member I2 and cover I1 are provided with a rib 33 and groove 34 to prevent rotation of the cover as the coil Illa moves in the adjustment of the strip I0. Fig. 7 discloses an assembly identical to that just described, but with means for positively locking the window or screen in closed position. 'I'he strip I0 is arranged in the carrier assembly II mounted on the frame A, and the strip is connected by the unit 26 to the storm window B for adjusting and supporting the same in any selected position. The lock comprises a lever 35 mounted in inverted position so that its hook or finger 36 moves downwardly to engage the loop 31 secured to the window. 'I'he lever 35 is pivotally mounted on the stud 23, or rather upon a reduced neck 38 on the knob 25 and may be manipulated by the handle 39 to engage or disengage the loop 31 and, of course, lock or unlock the window. A collar 40 fitted over the neck 38 prevents lateral displacement of the lever 35 and the lever may be secured in adjusted position by turning the knob up tight to clamp the lever.

'I'he carrier assembly I I may be mounted horizontally on the window frame A instead of vertically, as heretofore shown, and this horizontal position is disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9. The operation is identically the same, and the window B ls held in adjusted position by the strip III, but, since the strip cannot bend edgewise. as the window opens and closes, the carrier II is pivotally mounted by a pin 4I to a bracket 42 secured to the frame A. The entire arrier assembly may thus rock freely in a horizontal plane as the angle of the strip III varies in the opening and closing of the window or screen.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided extremely simple and effective means for adjusting and locking storm Windows and screens with respect to a window frame, and

which permits the convenient changing of windows and screens without tools.

It may here be noted that this application is a division of application Serial No. 212,734, filed June 9, 1938, for Window stay, now Patent No. 2,195,426, April 2, 1940.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A devicefor adjusting and supporting a movable closure with respect to a ilxed frame, the same comprising a strip of spring material formed into a coil at one end and releasably connected at its other end to the closure, a carrier member attached to the frame for carrying the coil and permitting extension and retraction oi' the end of the strip to thereby support the said closure, and means associated with the carrier member for engaging and locking the strip against movement.

2. A device for adjusting and supporting a movable closure relative to a frame, comprising a carrier member on the frame, a strip of spring metal formed into a coil and arranged in the carrier member with one end extensible toward the closure and connected thereto, and means for expanding the coiled portion of the strip Awithin the carrier member to thereby retain the end portion thereof in an extended, closure supporting position.

3. A device for supporting a movable closure in adjustable position with respect to a frame, comprising a carrier member mounted on the frame, a strip of spring metal formed into a coil and arranged in the carrier member with an end portion extending toward the closure and connected thereto, guide means on. the carrier member for guiding the end of the strip outwardly from the coil, and means associated with the can'ier member for frictionally engaging the coiled portion of the strip and locking the extended end portion thereof against endwise movement.

4. A device for supporting a movable closure in adjusted position with respect to a frame, comprising a carrier member mounted on the frame, a strip of spring metal formed into a coil and arranged in the carrier member with an end portion extending toward the closure and connected thereto, a brake drum mounted in the carrier member for frictionally engaging the coiled portion of the strip, a cover member, cam means on the brake drum and cover member for urging the brake drum into locking engagement with the coiled strip, and means for adjusting said cover member to cause said cam means to actuate the brake drum.

5. A device for supporting a movable closure in adjusted position with respect to a frame, comprising a carrier member mounted on the fra-me, a strip of spring metal formed into a coil and arranged in the carrier member with an end portion extending toward the closure and connected thereto, a brake drum mounted in the carrier member for frictionally engaging the coiled portion of the strip, a cover member, cam means on the brake drum and cover member for urging the brake drum into locking engagement with the coiled strip, and an adjustable knob on the carrier member for adjusting the cover member and urging the brake drum into locking engagement with the coiled strip.

6. A device for supporting a. pivotally mounted closure in adjusted position with respect to a frame, comprising a carrier member on the frame, a. strip of spring material extensibly arranged in said carrier member and connected at one end to said closure, means for locking the strip in any adjusted extension from the frame to thereby retain the closure at a selected angular position, and the said carrier member being movably mounted on the frame for oscillation by the strip as the angular position thereof with respect to the frame varies during adjustments of the closure.

'7. A device for adjusting a movable closure in a frame, the same comprising an elongated metal strip extensible from the frame, a connecting unit secured to the closure and having an opening and radially extending notches, and the said strip having a T-shaped head for releasable engagement, through the said notches, with the opening in the connecting unit.

8. A device for adjusting a movable closure in a frame, the same comprising an elongated metal strip extensible from the frame, a connecting unit secured to the closure and having an opening and radially extending notches, the

said strip having a T-shaped head for releasable engagement, through the said notches, with the opening in the connecting unit when the strip is twisted on its axis to align the head with the notches.

9. A device for adjusting and locking a movable member with respect to a fixed member, comprising a carrier -member secured to the xed member, a spring strip formed into a coil in the carrier member and adjustably extended at one end therefrom, the extended end of the strip being connected to the movable member, knob actuated means for locking the strip in any adjusted position, a locking lever oscillatably mounted on the carrier member and frictionally engaged by the knob for locking the lever against movement, a hook onthe lever, and a connecting member on the movable member for engagement by said hook.

10. A device for adjusting and locking a movable member with respect to a fixed member, comprising a carrier member secured to the fixed member, a spring strip formed into a coil in the carrier member and adjustably extended at one end therefrom, the extended end of the strip being connected to the movable member, a locking lever adjustably mounted on the carrier member, a connecting means on the said movable member, and a hook extended from the said lever for locking engagement with the said connecting means in one adjusted position of the movable member.

ADOLPH RONNING. 

